Long time and back at it!

I know it's been a long time since I've blogged. There has been so much that has happened that I'll try and post a couple close together to get caught up. Since the last blog, I got to go home for Christmas and spend it with my family. I loved this opportunity to spend the Christmas holiday with family and many close friends. Being around them made me realize how much I truly did miss them and truly do treasure their friendships. I was soo blessed to be home and get to enjoy this time with all of them. Even though my time at home was short, I did value it a lot. Since I only spent a week at home, I came back to Honduras on December 27th to do a missions trip. This trip is the group that I usually come down with in December. This time it was a little different coming on a missions trip to a country that has now become apart of my every day life. It was just different then coming and staying a week then leaving. There was so much more too it this time since I know that this is my current home. What more can I do since I'm around more and longer. But I got to do many things that I first felling in love with here. I got to see kids that I actually haven't gotten to see much because of distance and time of having a job in this country. I loved getting the ability to do the things I first feel in love with doing in Honduras!

Christmas time in Honduras

If you have never experienced Christmas outside the United States, there is always something to see and experience related to how other countries view Christmas. In Honduras, Christmas is a huge deal. Many schools are not in session, people can have up to almost the whole month off, every shopping place is crazy and busy all day long, decorations have been up for at least two months if not more. Honduras loves the Christmas holiday. There are huge Christmas trees all over and every shopping store is crazy! Being away from all the consumerism and television of the United States has made be begin to examine why I enjoy and want to celebrate Christmas! Through all of this, I have began to see how important Christmas is to spend with my family and why we do truly celebrate the birth of Jesus. I am not so concerned this year of presents and having the latest technology, but being able to be with my family and remember how much God has truly blessed my life. Christmas has always been a rough time of year for my family, but knowing how much God has blessed me with great friends, family, a job I truly enjoy, and all I do have. I cannot complain and know through that how much he does love me. He has watched over me with moving to a new country. When I need encouragement, he helps me see it in different areas of my life. This Christmas I see just how much God does love me and has given me the heart to want to bless others and show them God's love. I hope this Christmas you find a way to bless someone even in a small way because you do never know how truly the little things mean. God has shown me that the little things matter and even just a hug from someone in your life can help you and encourage for days later. Merry Christmas to you all and enjoy this wonderful time of year with friends and family. Remember that God gave us his son on this holiday because he loves us each so much more than we can ever imagine.

This is An and I at the mall with their Christmas tree!

Party Time!

Since my last post,I've gotten to do and be apart of some pretty amazing things. The last weekend in October, I got to go to this retreat for a Women of Purpose conference for women serving here in Honduras. This conference was a great rejuvination and helped be a great reminder why I'm here in Honduras. It helped me again see that this is exactally where God wants me for this time in my life. Even though I don't know how long, I do know that God is here with me and guiding my every step. After this conference, I got to spend some time with my friends who do a homeless ministry here in Tegucigalpa in the area that is a little less safe, but much needed. I love how the lady, Amber, who runs this ministry uses the saying to go along with her ministry that she says, "I can imagine being hungery, I can imagine not having a place to sleep, but I can't imagine waking up each morning thinking no cares about me. This is a great idea to show love and feed the homeless. They truely need to konw they are important to someone. It would horrible to think that know one cared you were here on Earth.
After taht weekend, I was swamped with school work and working hard at keeping a head of the game. I got to help run a 9th grade community building event which was a great. I got to talk to them about the importance of God in our lives and then play caputre the flag. Yes, my team won!
This past weekend, the teachers here at pinares have a tradition of a harvest party. We dress up for it. My apartment and the next for apartment went at the Go green recycle team. Here are some pics!

I got to go as super hero paper!

Needless to say, God is faithful and each day I see it in several different ways! Thank you for all your prayers and I'm living each day for him!

First Quarter coming to a close.......

I can't believe that I've already spent over 2 months living here in Honduras. In the next week, the first quarter is ending and it has come very quickly. Living in Honduras as been a great experience so far. God has been a true blessing. God has shown me that he has me here for a reason. One thing I've gotten to do is be a bible study leader. I lead the 9th grade girls bible study. We have been talking about the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan chapter by chapter. It has been a great experience to hear where the girls are coming from and what they struggle with. It's been great getting to know them outside of school. This has helped open up some relationships. I'm loving it. God has shown me in many ways about his love and how it is important to devote our whole lives to him.
Life has been busy here. I have gotten to help out with a track meet here. At this track meet, Pinares placed 3rd out of 5 teams. This was a great day for them! It was fun being there with the students and watching them participate in their sporting events. I have also gotten to go to some basketball games and help with a game day to raise money for our athletic department. It's been a great experience to see the community that is school is. I love being a part of this community. This weekend I actually got Monday off because of Discovery of America day and next week, we get Monday off for Armed Forces Day. It is weird having holidays in October. I just look at how fast this time has gone and I know before I know it, it will be December and I'll be heading home for a short visit.
There have been trials and times that have made me turn to God and truly lean on him. The first year of teaching isn't always easy like some may think. I have been so busy planning lessons and trying to be creating with not always knowing or understanding the material myself. It is hard to be creative when you don't always know what to expect. It is hard to plan these great lessons like I did in college because I have 10 a week to prepare instead of one every 4 or 5 weeks. I'm trying to be creative with the energy and time I have. I do truly know that I need God to give me this strength and energy to do my best. It's always a great comfort knowing that there is someone bigger, stronger to depend on for me.

My place!

My room! I love making this place feel like home!

View from my balcony

living room

I'm going to show you all my apartment! This is my new home with many of my things!! Trying everyday to make it totally home!

This is my place. There are more pictures on my facebook! I will try and get pictures of my classroom and tell you about many ministry opportunities that I am having and making great friendships!

Beginning of a new school year

School has begun! School started August 19th. Between the 19th and 20th I got to meet all 130 of my students that I will have this year. Most of my students are Honduran but there are a few North Americans. I am teaching 8th and 9th grade science classes. They are earth science and physical science. The beginning of the school year was a little intimidating. I wasn't sure if I truly knew what i was doing. But God has answered many prayers. This school year has started off every well. I am enjoying teaching my classes and I am enjoying getting to know my students. It is nice here because rules are different in several ways. Some are nice because they are not as strict related to teacher/student relationship. As a teacher, I can get to know my students on a friend level. It is good here because their culture focuses so much on getting to know people and the relationships. There are different rules from the school or country like only two tests for the students in a day and can't give homework on a weekend to allow for them to have time with family and church and such. It is nice to experience these differences. God has been so faithful through this whole move and getting ready for school and the beginning of school. I can't complain about anything.
Now that it is four weeks into the school year! I am truely loving it here! I have gotten many opportunities to experience that culture and learn my way around the city on public transportation. God is being so amazing and opening my eyes to many great things. I am truely enjoying getting to know my students and love watching these relationship develop. I am hoping to post pictures soon! Live is crazy busy or I'm being super social and not making time for some times! Either one God has been faithful and I am truely loving it here! Keep praying and lift up my students and help them to open their hearts to God and his love!

Finally here!

I am here and safe. My flight into Tegucigalpa arrived 2 hours late due to airplane maintence. I arrived safe and sounds with all my suitcases of 70 pounds! Overweight bag! Go figure! I am really excited to be here. First night here, I got to unpack and begin to settle. I am living with one other girl who is the same age as me and it is also her first year of teaching. It is a good thing. We will go through similar things at least! I will post pictures of the apartment soon! I want us to settle in more before pictures. We have one bathroom and each have our own bedroom. A living area and kitchen finish off the apartment. It is going to be fun. We've done some orientation things and talking about how to adjust to a new living situations and culture. We also got to tour the school and get a better feel of how classroom stuff will be. I will post pictures of my classroom too when I get them taken. There isn't a huge time change which is nice. It is tiring trying to get settled and figure everything out. Tomorrow (Saturday) we are going into the city to shop and get house ware stuff and groceries. It will be fun. This way I can decorate and make my apartment feel more like home that way! Right now, things are going very well. I am excited to begin putting my classroom together and start to work on the actually teaching stuff. I'll right more later! I'm here safe and sound!